AU2013201531A1 - An automatic promotion-suitability assessment method and system - Google Patents

Abstract

An automatic promotion-suitability assessment method comprising the steps of: creating a data set associated with a promotion of a product at a dealer computing device, wherein the data set is associated with a machine readable identifier, sending, from the dealer computing device, the created data set to a server, generating the machine readable identifier to make it available to at least one potential customer, detecting, at the server, that the machine readable identifier has been obtained by a computing device operated by a potential customer, sending, from the server, data from the data set to the potential customer's computing device, sending, from the server, a request for customer-based information to the potential customer's computing device, receiving, at the server, the customer-based information sent from the potential customer's computing device, upon receipt of the customer-based information, automatically assessing the received customer based information based on a set of defined rules, based on the assessment step, automatically generating at the server a quote associated with the data set, sending, from the server to the potential customer's computing device, a) the generated quote and b) instructions to enable the potential customer to indicate to the server that they wish to continue the assessment, and upon the server receiving data identifying that the customer wishes to continue the assessment, proceeding with a further assessment of the potential customer's suitability for the promotion. Dealer uses server system to create a specific promrntion Dealer generation Customer response Customer reads advert or swing tag with handheld device Initial customer data capture and assessment V Assessment and quote Accurate quote provided 7Afffordability assessmrnentAfodblt I (To Fig 1C) FIGURE lB

Description

1 AN AUTOMATIC PROMOTION-SUITABILITY ASSESSMENT METHOD AND SYSTEM Field [0001] The present invention relates to an automatic promotion-suitability assessment method and system. Background [0002] Dealerships dealing in the sale of high end items, such as large value products including cars, motorcycles, boats etc., are generally unaware of interest in their products until a potential customer either walks into the dealership or contacts the dealership either by telephone, email or a contact form via the dealership's website. Therefore, when a product is being promoted by the dealership, the dealership is unable to determine the interest in that promotion until direct contact has been made between the dealer and the potential customer. [0003] At present, these dealerships are also unable to create their own dealer specific promotional programs on currently available software platforms that are generally provided by insurance, finance or other external service providing companies. That is, promotional programs are generally controlled by parties that provide the financial backing or insurance facilities usually associated with the purchase of such high end products. This can result in the dealer having to run through the financial and/or insurance arrangements with a potential customer either in store or over the phone in order to assess their suitability for the promotion, which can be a time consuming process that may result in wasted effort by the dealer if the potential customer is then refused a line of credit or the particular required insurance associated with the promotion. For example, dealers currently have to go through the entire application information gathering process and submission before obtaining a response from the external company as to the acceptability, suitability or creditworthiness of the potential customer. [0004] Also, in order to assess the suitability of a potential customer's insurance or financial needs associated with a promotion, it is a requirement that the potential customer brings all required verification forms and documents to the dealership. These may include pay slips, driver's licence, signed declarations, bank statements, rates notices and similar. The dealers 2 must then scan or fax these and forward them to the requesting company. This dealer intermediate process causes a delay in the transaction and involves both travel and work. In addition, once the deal has been approved, the dealer must print out large quantities of documents including insurance forms, or product disclosure statements (PDSs), finance company loan documents, terms and conditions, credit guide, information statement, terms and conditions, checklists, privacy declaration, direct debit forms with its terms and conditions, and other similar documents. The dealer must then have the customer sign these at the dealership. After signing, the dealer then must forward these to the service company for checking for correctness and completeness before the products can be released to the customer. Again, this involves a large amount of work for the dealer. [0005] Further, dealers may not feel very comfortable with having to explain to a potential customer directly that they are unable to take advantage of a particular promotion because they have an insufficient credit rating, for example. [0006] Also, after a dealer has run through the financial and insurance requirements for a particular promotion, it may only then be determined that the potential customer is unable to afford the payments on the proposed transaction associated with the promotion. [0007] The present invention aims to overcome, or at least alleviate, some or all of the afore mentioned problems, with the object of at least providing the public with a useful choice. [0008] Further objects and advantages of the invention will be brought out in the following portions of the specification, wherein the detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the preferred embodiment of the invention without placing limitations thereon. [0009] The background discussion (including any potential prior art) is not to be taken as an admission of the common general knowledge in the art in any country. Any references discussed state the assertions of the author of those references and not the assertions of the applicant of this application. As such, the applicant reserves the right to challenge the accuracy and relevance of the references discussed. Summary of Invention 3 [00010] It is acknowledged that the terms "comprise", "comprises" and "comprising" may, under varying jurisdictions, be attributed with either an exclusive or an inclusive meaning. For the purpose of this specification, and unless otherwise noted, these terms are intended to have an inclusive meaning - i.e. they will be taken to mean an inclusion of the listed components that the use directly references, but optionally also the inclusion of other non-specified components or elements. It will be understood that this intended meaning also similarly applies to the terms mentioned when used to define steps in a method or process. [00011] It will be understood that, when describing various integers, such as modules, components, elements etc., any integer may be constituted by a single integer or multiple integers. [00012] According to one aspect, the present invention provides an automatic promotion suitability assessment method comprising the steps of: creating a data set associated with a promotion of a product at a dealer computing device, wherein the data set is associated with a machine readable identifier, sending, from the dealer computing device, the created data set to a server, generating the machine readable identifier to make it available to at least one potential customer, detecting, at the server, that the machine readable identifier has been obtained by a computing device operated by a potential customer, sending, from the server, data from the data set to the potential customer's computing device, sending, from the server, a request for customer-based information to the potential customer's computing device, receiving, at the server, the customer-based information sent from the potential customer's computing device, upon receipt of the customer-based information, automatically assessing the received customer based information based on a set of defined rules, based on the assessment step, automatically generating at the server a quote associated with the data set, sending, from the server to the potential customer's computing device, a) the generated quote and b) instructions to enable the potential customer to indicate to the server that they wish to continue the assessment, and upon the server receiving data identifying that the customer wishes to continue the assessment, proceeding with a further assessment of the potential customer's suitability for the promotion. Brief Description of Drawings [00013] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 4 [00014] Figure 1A shows a system block diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention; [00015] Figures 1B and IC show a flow diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention; [00016] Figures 2A and 2B show a further flow diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention; [00017] Figures 3A and 3B show a further flow diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention; [00018] Figures 4A and 4B show a further flow diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention; [00019] Figures 5A and 5B show a further flow diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention; [00020] Figures 6A and 6B shows a further flow diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention; [00021] Figures 7A, 7B and 7C show a further flow diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention; Description of Embodiments [00022] The following embodiment describes an automatic promotion-suitability assessment method and system for use by automobile dealers or suppliers, such as car dealers and motorcycle dealers, for example. However, it will be understood that the herein described method and system may be used by entities other than automobile dealers and suppliers and may be extended to any supplier of large value products where externally approved services such as insurance or finance is usually required to enable a potential customer to purchase the product. For example, such large value products may include cars, motorcycles, boats, caravans, RV's etc.

5 [00023] According to this embodiment, an automatic promotion-suitability assessment system is provided as shown in Figure 1A. The system includes a computing device 101 located at a motorcycle dealer's premises. For example, the computing device may be any suitable computing device such as a personal computer. The dealer computing device is connected to the Internet 103 via any suitable communication means, such as Ethernet, Wi-Fi, 3G/4G etc. A server 105 includes a storage device and a processor for performing any number of steps as defined by a web server program installed thereon. A printer 107 is connected to the dealer device 101, for printing swing tags 109. A third party server 111 is connectable to the Internet, where the server may belong to a publisher and may be used to enable the publication of magazines 113 or other advertising media such as posters and the like, online content 115 or swing tags 117. A potential customer's computing device 119 with a camera device 121 is also connectable to the Internet. [00024] Referring to figures lB and IC, an overall flow diagram of the method according to an embodiment is shown. A dealer accesses a server to create a specific promotion for a product. A customer reads an advert or swing tag, for example, using a handheld device. An initial customer data capture and assessment process is performed. An accurate quote is generated automatically by the server and provided to the customer. An affordability assessment is provided. A credit file retrieval and assessment is performed. Dealer additions and modifications are carried out. Additional customer data collection is performed using the customer's device. Loan documentation is created and provided to the customer for acceptance. The product is then delivered to the customer by the dealer. Further details of each of these steps are now provided with reference to figures 2A through to 7C. [00025] Via a suitable Internet connection to the Internet 103, the dealer logs into a centralised web server 105 running a web server program. Once logged in, the dealer is able to create a promotion for the sale of one or more high value items. The promotion may be specific to that particular dealer and to one or more specific items that are being promoted. The dealer can tailor the offer to aim at different customer groups. [00026] The dealer creates a data set using the computer 101. The computer 101 accesses the server 105, which is running the web server program. A graphical user interface is displayed on the dealer's computer 101 to enable the dealer to select and/or enter various different data items for inclusion in the dataset that is to be associated with the promotion. For example, a list of 6 items and variables may be transferred from the server 105 by the web server program and displayed on the dealer's computer 101. [00027] The web server program may then detect a selection of a particular item or the submission of an item to be incorporated into the data set. The data set may include one or more of a number of different data items. For example, a non-exhaustive list may include one or more of the following items. The make and/or model of the product being promoted or sold. The price of the product. The term of a loan associated with the purchase of the product. The repayment frequency of the loan. Any monetary deposit amount that would be required. An exchangeable value amount, such as a trade-in value, for example. Any dealer fee associated with the promotion. An example insurance value associated with insurance for the product. [00028] Any other suitable parameters associated with the promotion as set by a dealer may also be included in the data set, such as, for example, the date range in which the promotion is valid, the location of the dealership, additional information about the promoted item, further optional purchases associated with the promotion, etc. [00029] Upon creating and storing the data set at the server 105, the web server program creates a machine readable identifier and associates the data set with the machine readable identifier. For example, the machine readable identifier may be a QR code, bar code, Microsoft TM tags or any other suitable machine readable code. Further, the machine readable identifier may be a machine readable image or any other suitable coded identifiable information that may be obtained or accessed by a computing device operated by a potential customer, as explained in more detail below. [00030] After the machine readable identifier has been created or generated, the dealer's computer 101 obtains the generated machine readable identifier over the Internet from the server 105. According to this embodiment, a printer 107 is connected to the dealer's computer 101 and is used by the dealer to print one or more swing tags 109 with the machine readable identifier clearly shown thereon. The swing tags are then placed on the products that are being promoted. As an alternative, the dealer may print other media including the machine readable identifier, such as posters and the like.

7 [00031] The purpose of generating the machine readable identifier is to provide a mechanism whereby a potential customer is able to access the machine readable identifier in order to learn more and potentially access the promotion set up by the dealer. [00032] It will be understood that the promotion may not only be made known to a potential customer at the dealer's location through the display of the swing tags on the products being promoted, but may also be made known through other channels. For example, as an alternative, or in addition to printing the swing tags locally at the dealer's premises, the dealer may send instructions from the dealer computer 101 via the Internet 103 to a publishing computer 111 operated by a third party publishing company. Alternatively, the dealer may instruct the web server program to send instructions to the publishing computer from the server. [00033] The instructions may instruct the publishing company to print the machine readable identifier in one or more different magazines 113, such as motorcycle magazines for example. For example, the machine readable identifier may be incorporated within a graphic or image forming an advert identifying the product being promoted. The graphic or image may identify that there is a machine readable identifier associated with the advert by displaying the form of the machine readable identifier. For example, in the comer of the advert a message or symbol may be displayed to enable the reader to identify the particular type of technology associated with the machine readable identifier. One such example of a tagging system that uses real life images rather than coded blocks or colours is the AirLink TM tag. It will be understood that other image tag systems may also be used and the form of the machine readable identifier is arbitrary. [00034] As a further alternative, or in addition, to the machine readable identifier methods described above, the publishing company may be instructed to display the machine readable identifier in an online environment such as in an advert on one or more different web pages 115. The publishing company may also be instructed to print swing tags 117 and then deliver the swing tags to the dealer for placing upon the promoted products. [00035] A potential customer may then see the machine readable identifier (113, 115, 109) in one of the forms described herein. Using their own computing device 119, such as a smart phone, PDA, tablet device or any other suitable computing device, the machine readable identifier, for example a magazine image 113, may be scanned by the camera 121 of the 8 computing device 119. This step assumes that the computing device 119 has the associated machine readable identifier software or application installed in order to read the associated machine readable identifier. It may be necessary for the potential customer to first identify the type of machine readable identifier being displayed and subsequently download and install the required software or application to enable the computing device 119 to obtain, capture or access the machine readable identifier. [00036] After the computing device 119 captures or obtains the machine readable identifier, the associated software or application decodes the machine readable identifier to produce information to the computing device which enables it to identify the address of the server 105. This enables the computing device 119 to communicate with the server 105 via the Internet 103 using whichever communication medium the computing device is connected to, e.g. 3G/4G, Wi Fi etc. The computing device 119 then communicates with the server 105 to enable the web server program to send data from the dataset associated with the promotion back to the computing device 119. [00037] For example, upon detecting at the server that the machine readable identifier has been accessed by the potential customer's computing device 119, the server may send a request to the computing device 119 to download an application or software program that would enable the secure exchange of data between the server and the computing device 119. Upon the potential customer accepting and initialising the download, the software program or application is downloaded and installed on the computing device 119. The program then opens and displays the promotional data to the user. [00038] Alternatively, for example, if the potential customer decides they don't want to download the application or software program, the server may direct the computing device 119 to access a secure website via the browser on the computing device 119 to enable the exchange of data between the server 105 and the computing device 119. For example, a suitable URL identifying the web address of the server 105 may be sent to the computing device 119. [00039] This promotional data forms part of the data set as created by the dealer and identifies to the potential customer the key elements of the promotion on offer. This information then enables the potential customer to determine whether they want to pursue an application for acceptance to the promotion based on the provided data within the data set.

9 [00040] In addition, the web server program at the server 105 registers the interest in the promotion and stores initial data associated with the potential customer in an internal storage device. For example, this initial data may be gathered and transmitted by the potential customer's computing device if the device's permission or security settings allow information about the potential customer's computing device to be accessed and/or shared. For example, the location of the potential customer's computing device 119 may be determined, transmitted and stored at the server 105 by enabling a GPS unit on the device 119, or a cell phone tower based position referencing system, to determine the current location and transmit this location data to the server 105. Also, the telephone number or IP address associated with the potential customer's computing device 119 may be stored if available. Using the IP address or telephone number, the server 105 may access a third party database 123A to perform a reverse number lookup and determine and store the name or other details of the potential customer. [00041] Further, the web server program sends a request for customer-based information to the computing device 119 either via the downloaded program or application or through the web browser in order to perform a pre-assessment of the suitability of the potential customer. The customer-based information may include at least one of location data associated with the location of the potential customer's computing device, telephone number associated with the potential customer's computing device, home ownership status, occupation status and/or details, driver licence details, access permission for accessing external databases containing data associated with the potential customer. [00042] The customer-based information is then entered into the potential customer's computing device 119 by the potential customer. This information is then communicated to and received at the server, where it is stored. [00043] Initial information associated with the potential customer that has been stored at the server 105 may then be communicated from the server 105 to the dealer's computing device 101. This notification enables the dealer to keep track of potential customers that are interested (at least initially) in the promotion or offer. Further, the location of the potential customer may identify to the dealer that the potential customer is nearby or within the dealership, enabling the dealer to approach the customer knowing that they are interested in the particular promotion that is on offer.

10 [00044] As an alternative or in addition to communicating the initial data to the dealer's computing device 101, the initial data may be transmitted to one or more of a mobile communication device associated with the dealer, a facsimile machine associated with the dealer, an email server associated with the dealer, or the like. For example, the dealer may be informed by SMS, email or any other suitable communication method. [00045] After storing the received customer-based information at the server, an automatic assessment of the information is performed using a set of defined rules as defined by an algorithm implemented by the web server program. The set of defined rules includes instructions to calculate an interest rate value that is to be used when calculating an initial quote associated with the promotion. A rate matrix is stored at the server 105 to perform the quote calculation using the customer-based information and data from the promotion data set. In addition, fees set by a finance company or insurance company may also be introduced into the quote calculation. [00046] By applying various decision criteria to each of the answers to the request for customer based information and comparing these to the promotional data associated with the promotion, a determination is made by the web server program as to whether, based on the initial information provided, the potential customer is suitable for the promotion. [00047] . For example, various look up tables may be stored at the server to enable values associated with the promotion to be calculated. Once the values associated with the promotion have been calculated, these may be incorporated in a quote for the potential customer. [00048] Some non-limiting examples of various tables and matrices are shown below. [00049] Rate and deposit matrix Deposit % Homeowner rate Non Homeowner rate 30% 7% 9% 11 20% 8% 11% 10% 9% 13% 0% 10% 14% [00050] Loan calculation table Deposit % $ deposit Loan amount 30% $9,000 $21,000 20% $6,000 $24,000 10% $3,000 $27,000 0% $0 $30,000 [00051] Monthly payment calculation table for 5 year full payout loan paid monthly in arrears Loan amount Homeowner payments Non Homeowner payments $21,000 $415.83 $435.93 $24,000 $486.63 $521.82 $27,000 $560.48 $614.33 $30,000 $637.41 $698.05 12 [00052] It will be understood that, as an alternative, equations or algorithms may be stored at the server to determine a suitable value associated with the promotion based on the information provided by the customer, rather than using look up tables. [00053] After the web server program determines that the potential customer is suitable, and based on the customer responses decides the data values to be used in the offer to the customer, a calculation is performed at the server to determine the amount of the total loan that is required to complete the purchase using the promotion, as well as the periodic repayment amounts that are required, such as weekly, fortnightly or monthly payments. [00054] For example, the system may include one or more rules that determine whether the potential customer is suitable. One such rule could be the determination of whether the customer is above a threshold age by asking a specific age based question, such as "Are you over 18?" or "How old are you?". Based on the response to those questions, the web server program makes a determination as to whether the potential customer is suitable or not. It will be understood that other suitable questions or data may be used by the web server program to provide a determination of suitability (or lack thereof). For example, one or more specific answers may be required to one or more particular questions. As a further example, one or more values associated with answers to one or more specific questions may be required, where those values must be above, below or within a defined range to determine suitability. [00055] Further, it will be understood that based on the potential customer's response, data associated with the response may be used to categorise the customer and/or limit the scope of the promotion being offered based on the rules utilised by the web server program. [00056] The calculated quote value and repayment amounts are then transferred from the server to the potential customer's computing device. The customer is asked in this communication to provide an indication as to whether they wish to proceed with the promotion or not, which also includes an indication that the customer accepts that third party databases may be accessed to determine the customer's suitability. For example, if an application is loaded on the potential customer's computing device, a selection of a button indicating "yes" or "no" would send data back to the server to provide this indication. If the potential customer's computing device is connected to the server via the web browser, the customer may click on a related link identified 13 as "yes" or "no" to send the related indication back to the server. The web server program then detects the response received at the server and operates as described below. [00057] If the customer indicates that they no longer wish to proceed, the process ends. In this scenario, the data provided by the customer is maintained on the server for later use if the customer shows any interest in further promotions. [00058] If the customer indicates that they wish to proceed, the process enters an affordability stage to assess whether the potential customer is able to afford the product purchase using the promotion. During the affordability process, the web server 105 accesses various external databases (123A - 123n) to retrieve data associated with the customer. The information gathered is used by the web server and also the dealer to alter the promotion offer and/or determine whether the promotion offer is suitable for the potential customer. [00059] As an initial step in the affordability process, the server 105 sends a query to the customer's device 119 requesting an indication as to whether the customer is able to afford the payments as shown in the previously generated quote. If the customer selects the response "no", the process ends. Whereas, if the customer selects the response "yes", the customer is given the option to either complete the affordability details now or at a later time. [00060] If the customer selects the response "later", the process continues to a credit check as described below. Whereas, if the customer selects the response "now", the server 105 sends a list of queries to the customer's device 119, which determine the level of income and expenses associated with the customer. For example, the server may request data from the customer's device 119 associated with the customer's net income from salary or other sources, mortgage or rent payments along with the frequency of these payments and expenses associated with credit cards, loans or other expenses. [00061] The customer enters their response to this request into their device 119, which is then sent back to the sever 105. The web server program then retrieves metrics for the cost of living based on published resources, such as the Henderson Poverty Index, as well as other data that is used for determining affordability, such as buffer percentages. The metric data may be retrieved from one or more external databases 123.

14 [00062] The web server program calculates the amount of disposable income remaining for the customer based on the customer's income and expense data. The web server program then calculates a value based on the disposable income minus the proposed payment on the loan allowing for any buffer percentage values, and based on that calculated value determines whether the customer can afford to make the loan payments. [00063] For example, if the amount of the proposed payment plan exceeds or is too close to the disposable income, then the system may determine that the customer is not a suitable candidate, and the process ends by the server sending an appropriate message to the customer's device 119 and to the dealer's device 101. [00064] Whereas, if the disposable income exceeds the payment plan amount including the buffer percentages, the customer may be determined to be a suitable candidate. Following a successful affordability stage, the process moves on to the credit check stage. [00065] In order to access the customer's credit file, a request is sent from the server 105 to the customer's device 119 requesting permission to access the file. If the customer gives permission by selecting "yes", the server sends a further request to the customer's device 119 asking whether the customer has any known credit problems. If the customer confirms known credit problems by selecting "yes", the process ends. Whereas, if the customer denies existing credit problems by selecting "no", the server accesses the credit file from a third party database 123 by using a combination of: Full name and address, Date of birth, Driver's licence number, or other required identifiers, as provided by the customer. On the other hand, if the customer does not give permission to access the credit file, the process ends. [00066] Upon a credit bureau performing a credit check, the results of the credit check are sent back to the server 105. A credit file is received from the credit bureau at the server. The web server program runs a number of standard checks on the credit file to ascertain whether the customer's credit is worthy of the promotion. For example, the web server program checks the data in the file for variables to determine whether there are any derogatory elements (e.g. bankruptcy, defaults, judgements etc.), number of enquiries over various prior periods and types of enquiries (including identifying names and types of lenders). [00067] Based on a set of standard business rules, the web server program determines whether to decline credit, approve credit or refer the assessment for manual approval by a credit officer.

15 [00068] If the credit check has failed, the server notifies the customer and sends a message to the customer's device 119 offering alternatives for purchasing the product outside of the promotion. If the credit check comes back indicating that more information is required, a message is sent from the server to the dealer's device 101, as explained in more detail below. If the credit check comes back indicating a success, the web server program checks to see if the affordability process has already been performed, and if not, the process is carried out as described herein. If the affordability process has already been performed, the process moves onto the dealer modification process. [00069] After determining that the potential customer is suitable for completion of the promotion, a notification including an indication that the credit check was a success is communicated from the server 105 to the dealer's computing device 101. Further, data associated with the customer's location, maximum amount of loan based on the affordability calculations, and all other chosen variables selected by the dealer and/or customer are also sent from the server 105 to the dealer's device 101. This notification and data enables the dealer to log into the web server 105 and modify one or more of the variables as he sees fit. For example, the dealer may modify the price of the product, the price of add-ons, the price of extras associated with the product, any cash-back incentives, a trade-in amount, a deposit amount, loan term amounts, repayment frequencies, other loan variables, delivery charges and insurance costs. Further, the dealer may confirm the make and model of the product as well as confirming the quote that has been generated. [00070] As an alternative or in addition to communicating the notification to the dealer's computing device 101, the notification may be transmitted to a mobile communication or computing device associated with the dealer. [00071] Upon the dealer entering any modifications at the dealer device 101, the data is sent back to the server 105 where the web server program calculates the revised loan and repayment amounts, the customer capacity to pay the loan, a determination that the total loan amount does not exceed credit limits, and confirms the dealer has accepted the changes. [00072] The web server then returns the modified transaction to the customer's device 119 to enable the customer to approve the modifications made by the dealer.

16 [00073] In addition, the server sends a request to the customer's device 119 to provide suitable documentation to proceed with the transaction, such as driver's licence, pay slips, bank statements, rates notices etc. The customer may provide these documents by capturing images of the documents using the camera 121 of their device 119 and sending these images to the server 105. Alternatively, the documents may be handed to the dealer at the dealer's premises to enable the dealer to submit the documents to the web server either through a facsimile interface or scan and email interface. [00074] . The web server program sends the customer's documentation and data to a credit officer to confirm details provided by the customer match up to the documentation sent, and to either approve the promotional sale, or decline the promotional sale. For example, income amounts may be checked against the provided payslips. If the promotional sale is declined, the web server program sends a message to the dealer's device 101 notifying the dealer of the outcome, and a notification to the customer's device either requesting further documentation, or declining the offer and stopping the process. [00075] Upon the promotional sale approval, the web server program sends a request to the dealer's device 101 requesting further data such as VIN or serial number, engine number, registration number etc., confirmation of the final amounts to be put in the documents, insurance amounts and commissions on certain types of insurance. The web server program then runs internal checks to assess whether all the information has been entered correctly and is valid (e.g. VIN number validation checks). [00076] Once the dealer has sent the further data to the server 105 from the dealer device 101, the web server program automatically generates all the required documentation for acceptance by the customer. The web server program collates all the above data and using internal templates generates a series of required legal loan documents to be signed by the customer including: Loan schedule; Credit Guide; Direct debit form and agreement; Mandatory information statement; Privacy declaration; Other documents as needed. These documents are also made accessible by the server to the dealer's device 101 for printing, should the dealer wish to take that route. [00077] The server 105 forwards the documents to the customer for e-acceptance. The web server program notifies the customer by email and\or SMS that the loan is ready for electronic 17 acceptance. The web server program presents the customer with the following choices: Access the documents from a URL on a computer; Have the documents emailed as a pdf; Print the documents for physical signature and return to the dealer; Accept the documents electronically. Electronic acceptance entails the web server program using two factor authentication of the customer by sending an SMS with a code that the customer enters in the e-acceptance process. The customer must either print or save the documents to their hard drive. The customer is asked for any remaining data e.g. bank account details, and this is recorded by the web server program at the server. The customer is then interrogated as to their acceptance of the documents and terms and conditions and asked to reconfirm their identity as part of this. On successful acceptance the web server program records the acceptance and transmits the confirmation of the acceptance to the dealer's device 101. [00078] Upon acceptance, the dealer is then able to arrange delivery of the product to the customer. [00079] The herein described embodiments include a number of advantages, as follows. Permits dealers to create dealer specific promotions. Enables the dealer to produce these with a tagged coded identifier e.g. QR code or similar. Links any customer interest back to the dealer giving the dealer: General information on customer interest in the specific promotion; Specific information on a customer that commences an application; Information about which advertising medium is most effective. Gives the dealer the customer location (in store, at home etc.), so the dealer can act accordingly, e.g. approach the customer in store. Confirms to the dealer exactly which item the customer is interested in. Gives the dealer information on out of store customers that they would otherwise not have known about. Gives the dealer a way to communicate seamlessly with the customer. Saves the dealer from a large work effort entering an insurance, finance or similar application. Eliminates the need for the customer to spend an extended period with the dealer while the dealer enters their application. Eliminates the time wasted by dealers on customers who never would have been eligible for the promotion and related service (e.g. because derogatory items appear listed in their credit bureau file, because their driving record would deny them certain insurance, or because they could not afford the payments). Enables the dealer to modify the sales approach early in the process (e.g. incent a cash sale where a loan won't be available for that customer) and thus maximise the chances of a sale. Enhances the ability of the dealer to upsell, or otherwise beneficially modify the offering, during the application process as the customer separately moves through the application. Enables the 18 dealer to do this even if the customer is not in-store. Eliminates all the work of the dealer gathering the verification documents and scanning\sending them. Eliminates the need for the customer to take these in to the dealer. Speeds up the transaction by eliminating the dealer as a document intermediary. Eliminates the need for the dealer to print large quantities of documents. By eliminating the dealer print and sign up it saves time when the customer is interacting with the dealer. Reduces the effort and risk to the dealer having to check verification documents. Enables the dealer to transact remotely with no necessary need to meet the customer. Enable the dealer to access a whole different customer set. Further Embodiments [00080] It will be understood that the embodiments of the present invention described herein are by way of example only, and that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of invention. [00081] For example, it will be understood that the coded identifier may also be part of a communication used in RFID or near field chip or similar and is not limited to a visual coded identifier. [00082] Further, it will be understood that voice recognition on handheld devices may be used to capture customer data using voice requests and voice entry by the customer. The device could ask a specific question and both record the response and turn the response into data entry for transmission to the server. [00083] Further, it will be understood that video capture of the customer responding to certain questions or permissions could be utilized for approval purposes. [00084] Further, it will be understood that the dealer could be shown a transaction in progress by the server relaying the information to the dealer's device at the same time as the customer is entering the data into the customer's device. In this way, the dealer may push back to the server and onto the customer's device a better offer, or modification, if the dealer can see the transaction beginning to go off track.

Claims (16)

1. An automatic promotion-suitability assessment method comprising the steps of: creating a data set associated with a promotion of a product at a dealer computing device, wherein the data set is associated with a machine readable identifier, sending, from the dealer computing device, the created data set to a server, generating the machine readable identifier to make it available to at least one potential customer, detecting, at the server, that the machine readable identifier has been obtained by a computing device operated by a potential customer, sending, from the server, data from the data set to the potential customer's computing device, sending, from the server, a request for customer-based information to the potential customer's computing device, receiving, at the server, the customer-based information sent from the potential customer's computing device, upon receipt of the customer-based information, automatically assessing the received customer based information based on a set of defined rules, based on the assessment step, automatically generating at the server a quote associated with the data set, sending, from the server to the potential customer's computing device, a) the generated quote and b) instructions to enable the potential customer to indicate to the server that they wish to continue the assessment, and upon the server receiving data identifying that the customer wishes to continue the assessment, proceeding with a further assessment of the potential customer's suitability for the promotion.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the machine readable identifier is one or more of a machine readable code, an image and coded identifiable information.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the machine readable code is a bar code or a QR code. 20

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of the potential customer's computing device obtaining the machine readable identifier, decoding the machine readable identifier to identify the server and communicating with the server.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of sending from the server to the dealer computing device a notification informing the dealer that a potential customer is associated with the data set.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of sending a computer program from the server to the potential customer's computing device upon the server detecting that the machine readable identifier has been accessed by the potential customer's computing device.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of sending a web page address from the server to the potential customer's computing device upon the server detecting that the machine readable identifier has been accessed by the potential customer's computing device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of defined rules comprises calculating a rate value associated with the quote based on a combination of the customer-based information and data within the data set.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the data within the data set comprises one or more from the list of: the make and/or model of the product; parameters associated with the promotion as set by a dealer, the price of the product; the term of a loan; the repayment frequency of a loan; a monetary deposit amount; an exchangeable value amount; a dealer fee; an insurance value.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of further assessing the potential customer's suitability for the promotion by the server requesting confirmation from the potential customer's computing device that the assessment is to continue.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of requesting confirmation further comprises the steps of requesting that the potential customer send confirmation that a) they can afford payments associated with the generated quote, and b) they identify whether they want to complete an affordability assessment. 21

12. The method of claim 11 whereupon the server receiving confirmation from the potential customer's computing device that the potential customer wants to complete the affordability assessment, the method further comprises the steps of sending from the server to the potential customer's computing device a request for further customer-based information.

13. The method of claim 12 whereupon the server receiving the further customer-based information, the method further comprises the step of assessing at the server whether the further customer-based information correlates with the data in the data set.

14. The method of claim 11 whereupon the server receiving confirmation from the potential customer's computing device that the potential customer can afford payments associated with the generated quote the method further comprises the steps of the server accessing credit information via a credit bureau server based on the received customer-based information, and, upon receipt of the credit information, determining whether the credit information correlates with the data set.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the customer-based information includes at least one of the group consisting of: location data associated with the location of the potential customer's computing device; telephone number associated with the potential customer's computing device; home ownership status; occupation status and/or details; driver licence details; access permission for accessing external databases containing data associated with the potential customer.

16. An automatic promotion-suitability assessment system comprising a server executing a web server program configured to perform the method steps as defined in any one of claims 1 to 15. KHS Pty Ltd Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON & FERGUSON